Field of study · CIP 39.06
Theological and Ministerial Studies
Offered at 738 college programs that reported results. Here is what graduates earn and owe at each credential level, and which programs pay best.
By credential level
| Credential | Programs | Typical earnings, 1 yr | Typical earnings, 5 yrs | Typical debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate | 26 | — | — | — |
| Associate | 30 | — | — | — |
| Bachelor's | 181 | $37,280 | $49,874 | $24,317 |
| Master's | 296 | $54,690 | $62,337 | — |
| Doctoral | 85 | $66,908 | $86,145 | — |
| Professional | 54 | $57,481 | $62,948 | — |
| Graduate certificate | 66 | — | — | — |
"Typical" is the median across programs of each program's median, counting only programs with unsuppressed data (at least three). It describes a typical program, not a national median for all graduates. Certificate figures include certificates earned at four-year colleges, often alongside a bachelor's; see degrees vs. certificates for a cleaner comparison. Source: College Scorecard field of study data.
Highest-earning certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty University | VA | — | $55,646 | $16,658 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning associate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northwest University | WA | — | $39,311 | — |
| 2 | Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education | WA | — | $39,311 | — |
| 3 | Southeastern University | FL | $31,253 | — | $13,379 |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning bachelor's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concordia University-Nebraska | NE | — | $64,482 | — |
| 2 | Martin Luther College | MN | $14,398 | $64,016 | $18,250 |
| 3 | Nazarene Bible College | CO | — | $57,991 | — |
| 4 | Concordia University Ann Arbor | MI | — | $56,757 | $27,000 |
| 5 | Concordia University-Wisconsin | WI | — | $56,757 | $27,000 |
| 6 | University of Notre Dame | IN | $45,317 | $56,704 | $19,200 |
| 7 | University of Dallas | TX | $40,129 | $55,817 | — |
| 8 | The King's University | TX | — | $55,105 | — |
| 9 | Oral Roberts University | OK | $36,777 | $52,977 | $31,000 |
| 10 | University of Northwestern-St Paul | MN | — | $52,647 | $19,937 |
| 11 | Seattle Pacific University | WA | — | $52,370 | — |
| 12 | Hope International University | CA | — | $52,199 | — |
| 13 | Northwest University | WA | $40,408 | $50,189 | $25,753 |
| 14 | Northwest University-Center for Online and Extended Education | WA | $40,408 | $50,189 | $25,753 |
| 15 | Oklahoma Wesleyan University | OK | — | $49,560 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning master's programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion | NY | $114,148 | $135,408 | — |
| 2 | Concordia Seminary | MO | $84,695 | $98,222 | — |
| 3 | Wartburg Theological Seminary | IA | $75,174 | $92,980 | — |
| 4 | Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest | TX | $91,825 | — | — |
| 5 | Concordia Theological Seminary | IN | $68,124 | $90,591 | — |
| 6 | The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary | KY | $60,420 | $83,272 | — |
| 7 | Meadville Theological School of Lombard College | IL | — | $82,273 | — |
| 8 | Howard University | DC | $76,040 | $81,944 | — |
| 9 | Lenoir-Rhyne University | NC | — | $81,375 | — |
| 10 | Luther Seminary | MN | $88,567 | $81,003 | — |
| 11 | The Master's University and Seminary | CA | $69,234 | $80,262 | — |
| 12 | Covenant Theological Seminary | MO | $57,009 | $79,748 | — |
| 13 | Harding University | AR | $79,289 | — | — |
| 14 | Westminster Theological Seminary in California | CA | $56,193 | $77,900 | — |
| 15 | Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary | NC | $55,425 | $77,800 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning doctoral programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary | KY | $87,278 | $117,297 | — |
| 2 | Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary | NC | $118,656 | $90,339 | — |
| 3 | Evangel University | MO | — | $89,228 | — |
| 4 | Fuller Theological Seminary | CA | — | $87,388 | — |
| 5 | Duke University | NC | $73,405 | $86,683 | — |
| 6 | University of Chicago | IL | $63,572 | $85,608 | — |
| 7 | Drew University | NJ | $67,733 | $77,998 | — |
| 8 | Virginia Union University | VA | $71,833 | $69,379 | — |
| 9 | South University-Savannah | GA | $57,002 | — | — |
| 10 | Liberty University | VA | $66,084 | $55,559 | — |
| 11 | Regent University | VA | $52,163 | — | — |
| 12 | Interdenominational Theological Center | GA | $34,601 | $48,552 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning professional programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emory University | GA | $104,559 | $126,827 | — |
| 2 | The University of the South | TN | — | $106,915 | — |
| 3 | Boston University | MA | $49,264 | $74,170 | — |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Theological Seminary | PA | $45,417 | $70,948 | — |
| 5 | Harvard University | MA | $51,675 | $63,620 | — |
| 6 | Oral Roberts University | OK | — | $62,277 | — |
| 7 | Andrews University | MI | $57,979 | $61,985 | — |
| 8 | Grand Canyon University | AZ | $57,988 | $58,417 | — |
| 9 | Western Theological Seminary | MI | — | $57,147 | — |
| 10 | Columbia International University | SC | $56,984 | — | — |
| 11 | Virginia Union University | VA | $64,903 | $55,942 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Highest-earning graduate certificate programs
| # | College | State | Earnings, 1 yr | Earnings, 5 yrs | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liberty University | VA | — | $55,769 | — |
Ranked by 5-year median earnings, or 1-year where 5-year is not reported.
Related fields
Bible/Biblical StudiesBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $47,364Religious EducationBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $46,683Pastoral Counseling and Specialized MinistriesBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $42,886Religious Music and WorshipBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $41,158Missions/Missionary Studies and MissiologyBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $40,069Theology and Religious Vocations, OtherBachelor's typical 5-yr earnings $45,120
Quick answers
- How much do theological and ministerial studies graduates earn?
- One year after finishing, a typical bachelor's program in theological and ministerial studies reports median earnings of $37,280. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field of study data.
